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Monday, October 29, 2018

It was pouring cats and dogs last night… a much awaited rain
after 2 years that was spiced with thunder, lightning and wind… and the mild
chill this morning was just amazing, gradually setting me in autumn mood. Everything
in my garden is washed and looks vividly green. It is the perfect weather to
grab a cup of coffee, curl up with a book with music playing in the background…
bliss. Today’s autumn vignette elements consist of lavender scented candle,
books, an artificial plant and layered with my favorite throw.

Leaving you now with many more vignette fantasy as I get
ready to do some sketching!

Monday, October 22, 2018

My autumn vibe series are all about fun, easy and charming
vignettes. You would’ve noticed by now that I am a huge vignette fan because it’s
quick to create one and it’s your way of adding your seasonal charm to
your space. It is all about beautiful Fall goodness! While sipping my ginger
tea, I always imagined what it’s like to experience the joy of autumn… the joy
of walking through the forest of autumn patches and feeling the fresh crisp air.
And I love how the season brings a nice warm and soft palette.

Today’s vignette elements consists of dry autumn foliage,
branches, a vintage pickle jar, a book, a tealight holder and crockery while
keeping in mind the colours that define autumn. You can even use a glass jar or
vase to hold the leaves and branches.

What do you think of
my vignette? Do you have any vignette Fall decorating ideas? I would love to
hear them.

Monday, October 15, 2018

It is cloudy today in our part of the world and I spent this
breezy morning with several cups of tea while waiting for some sign of rain.
And the hope still remains strong. Even though
we never experience autumn or fall, through the power of home décor I have set
in with autumn vibes and cheer. It’s that happy season when you know the best
is yet to come…the weather is going to
get better… and the anticipation of festivals and holidays! Today’s vibes is all about simplicity for my tablescape. The elements
I used are pretty simple. I used the available fruits that I had and paired it
with a small cake stand, a nice scented candle and a good coffee table book. You
can even pair different fruits together to give a more colourful look. What do
you think of my vignette?

Thursday, October 4, 2018

It’s been a quick and tiring week that I could use some tea
with love or a glass of wine, lots of music, a scented candle burning and snuggle with a book or
watch TV. And at the same time I also wanted to bring in some autumn vibes in
my home space even though we never experience it here in the Middle East. Cheers
to the power of home décor and pretend the season is setting in!! So stay tuned
for some autumn vignettes and vibes. Meanwhile I am leaving you with a little
warmth through my pictures. Have a fabulous day everyone!

Do you have any simple autumn décor? Or have you made any
changes in your décor lately? Please share if you have any, I would love to
share it with my readers. Please email your pictures to tbinspirations@gmail.com .

Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Ajit Thomas, a practicing dentist to many… but to
me, his family and many close friends, he is as an exceptionally talented artist
that the world needs to know. His realistic portrait sketches are remarkably
real. Each one of his work is a master piece highlighted with perfection and are
detail intensive. He also juggles with clay modeling, cartooning and
caricature. For Ajit, art is a family affair. He grew up watching his father’s
creative art work and there was no turning back since then. Ajit kept his art
inspiration alive while juggling with his profession. And now he has produced
some brilliant portraits that the world needs to see. Let hear more from Ajit
and view some of his spectacular work.

Ajit's latest portrait work

·A brief
about yourself

Saving the world from cavities is what I do
to earn a living. I am a trained Dentist, all the way from India, working in
the Middle East.

·How did
your journey as an artist begin? Did you have any formal training or is it
self-taught?

I have been fascinated by art and craft
from as early as I can remember. A fascination for colors started with my first
Lyra 48 color pencil set that my father gifted me for topping in class when I
was 8 years old.

My father was an exceptionally talented
untrained artist, and unimaginably creative. It was watching the artist in him
that set off my passion in art.

I have not had any formal training; it has
been just observing and DIY all the way.

·What is
your medium for your art work? How would you describe your art style?

I have no idea about various art styles. I
just enjoy doing whatever helps excite the senses.

I am into Pencil sketching, Water coloring,
Clay modelling, Cartooning, and Caricaturing for quite some time now. Recently
I tried a hand in color pencil portrait sketching. And when I liked what I saw,
I decided to take it to the next level. Social media has been of great help in
getting exposed to ‘detailing’ in art: and I must say there are a lot of
incredible artists out there who do exceptional art work.

·What's
your inspiration for your art work?

Art runs in my family. And I am just an
extension of the big tree. I hope to keep creating using whatever talents I
have.The genes seem to have passed on
to my children too. Inspiring through art is the best inspiration!

Would like to mention an artist friend Hemanth,
for inspiring me with his mind blowing portraits

·What is the
most challenging aspect about your work?

Detailing in portraits requires a lot of
patience. Bringing life into the eyes of the subject and replicating skin tones
are the toughest for me. Am I allowed to mention material costs here??? (Ofcourse! :D)

·What is your creative
process like? And what keeps you motivated?

The only time I have an artist’s block is when I am asleep. When you are
into sketching portraits, you tend to observe every face you come across. So
there never is a dearth of subjects and motivation to sketch. And if I ever get
saturated sketching, it is then cartoon or caricature time. When creations
strike a chord with people, that is
motivation enough!

·Do you commission
different projects? And how can people purchase your work?

Yes, I do accept commissioned
projects which are requested either directly through social media or through
friends and family. I have not ventured into selling my creations. But maybe
I’ll break into the commercial scene someday.

·What is your favorite
art piece that you have done till date?

Difficult to
pinpoint one particular favorite …but if you insist, the Dark Knight in modeling
clay (A lot of work went into the detailing. I hope to one day convert that
into a more durable material using 3D printing) and the Amitabh Bachchan
portrait which I managed to get autographed by the great himself along with a
small note of appreciation.

·Any tips or words
of wisdom to aspiring artists who want to pursue a similar career.

Yes……with great
powers come great responsibilities!!!No,
just kidding…there are no definitions and destinations in art… it is what you
see and pick up along the way that makes the ride enjoyable. Expose yourself to
creations of both masters and amateurs. Learning is a continuous process…..take
risks and experiment…, if you succeed, let the world know and if you fail, do
not tell anyone …!

Thank you Ajit for sharing your work and your art journey with me and my readers. Looking forward to seeing more of your work and an exhibition in the near future.

Thursday, September 27, 2018

I am an advocate for simple recipes with
easy ingredients and high in flavor. But this recipe is not an easy one but the
effort and hard work is all worth it if you are baking for a special occasion. I
baked this cake for my husband who was traveling on his birthday… it is a 4
layer cake vanilla sponge cake soaked with coffee and Kahlua, crushed
chocolate, cheese frosting, and soft dense chocolate cake. The flavours of
chocolate and coffee go so well together… It took me 2 days to make this and to
make it look sophisticated and a show-stopper, I wrapped it with chocolate lace
and topped with raspberries and icing sugar! This is seriously one of my
kitchen pride moment!!.... And the result is utter bliss!! I couldn’t think of
a better cake for my birthday boy, who still has a huge grin on his face and
hunts my fridge looking for leftovers….

If you have any love for chocolate
coffee Kahlua cake and cheese frosting, this is the cake to go for!

1.Beat 6 eggs until foamy. Then slowly add the sugar and vanilla
while beating the egg mixture.

2. Now to add the dry
ingredients. Sift the flour and cornstarch and fold it into the beaten
eggs using a whisk.

3. Prepare 2 round baking pans
(9 inches in diameter) with parchment paper and grease it with butter. Pour the
batter evenly between the two pans.

4. Bake in a preheated oven at
176 degrees Celsius for 28-30 minutes. Then transfer to a cooling rack to cool
to room temperature.

6. In a small bowl mix together
the coffee and Kahlua and keep it aside

T To make Frosting

Whip heavy cream in a bowl until stiff peaks
are formed. Refrigerate this bowl of whipped cream. In a separate bowl
beat the mascarpone cheese until smooth and add the powdered sugar and beat
well till its smooth. Fold the mascarpone mixture into the whipped cream with a
rubber spatula until no white streaks remain. If this mixture is a bit runny
refrigerate it till its set.

L Layering

·Start layering the cake in this order: a layer of
chocolate cake, top it with cheese frosting

·Then top it with a layer of sponge cake, pour a bit of
coffee mixture on it. Then spread the cheese frosting. You can also add a bit
of coarsely crushed chocolate like KitKat or Maltesers.

·And continue the layers in the same manner till you spread
the cheese frosting on top and sides.

·Sprinkle Cocoa powder and garnish it with berries and
dusted icing sugar.

·I managed to make a chocolate lace to cover the sides.
Please click here for the tutorial or you can pipe any icing and decorate the sides.

Thursday, September 13, 2018

The latest collection of Wedgwood had me swooning for
more. Wedgwood trinket box and photo frame are one my priceless collection that
I love. I think I have a love affair with fine porcelain and fine bone china. But when I saw
the latest collection of Wedgwood, all I could see was elegance and the vibrant
colours.

Iconic English lifestyle brand, Wedgwood unveils
Vibrance, a tableware and gift collection featuring designs directly inspired
by the Wedgwood archive. Skillfully engaging a riot of colour with stylized
florals and elegant gold, the collection represents the perfect fusion of style
and functional design for the contemporary, bold consumer.

Reflecting current
interior trends, Vibrance pays tribute to past, present and future expression
through colourful tableware and beautiful, one-of-a-kind functional giftware.
The collection’s aesthetic mixes floral design elements re-drawn and updated from
Wedgwood’s impressive 250-year archive with modern, functional shapes to create
timeless pieces for the contemporary home. Modern functional shapes to create
timeless pieces for the contemporary home. A modern classic, the collection is
perfectly suited for any gifting, dining or entertaining occasion.

For the bold and
expressive consumer, the Vibrance tableware collection elegantly brightens
contemporary living spaces with its array of eye-catching, heritage inspired
florals and vibrant colours on a range of mugs, teacups, plates saucers,
platters and bowls that will stand out in any interior setting.

Colour is the key in
this collection as turquoise contrasts with black, white and gold for a modern
update on statement tableware. The striking yet refined accessories collection
comes in four distinct hues – deep magenta, canary yellow, rich tangerine and
bright turquoise blue – all highlighted by gold mica detailing and finished
with a decadent hand-gilded banding.

Each accessory item
can be styled individually or displayed as a collection whether to complement a
vivid living space or add a touch of colour to a neutral room setting.

The collection’s
fine bone china and lacquer giftware range adds flair and charm to any style of
home, combining striking geometric designs, luxurious gold and bold blocks of
colour on parred-back, functional shapes. Black and white geometric patterns
enclosed by the collection’s vibrant, animated hues create modern home décor
pieces that are perfect for consumers looking to make a bold design statement.
From picture frames and lidded boxes to trays and vases, the giftware range
features decorative interior pieces that are beautifully boxed, offering the
perfect gifting solution for any design enthusiast.

Check out their
collection and click here to read more about Wedgwood.

Monday, September 10, 2018

As the weather is slowly changing for the better, I decided to
bring some green indoors and I started with money plants. So I got some pruned money
plant stems from my garden and all you need are some pretty glass vase or
containers, some pebbles in it and water. So for those who don’t have a green thumb,
this is a pretty stress free thing to start with! No soil and all it needs are
water and occasional change of water until the roots come out nicely. And then
you can transfer to a pot with soil. Another plant that is easy to manage is lucky
bamboo. It just need little sunlight and water and helps with Feng Shui! So for
today I am just going to work on money plant before I let more greens in….

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

This recipe is an instant hit with my family. And because it is so
popular on Pinterest and other blogs, I just had to try out this recipe. Chicken and
mushrooms work incredibly well together and when you top it with cheese it just
takes you to another level of goodness!The chicken once cooked is juicy and tender and definitely a meal to
impress your friends, family, your date or guests. You can serve it with mashed
potatoes and bread or some salad or rice

I am just going to provide the link where I adapted the recipe from and share a couple of pictures to drool.
It is pretty straightforward and easy to follow. I added mozzarella instead of
parmesan and it worked great as well!

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Today I have got another
gorgeous home to share with you. This home is a picture of calmness that brings
on the shades of monochrome and greys. I felt I could waltz around here humming
to myself and soaking in the comfort of this home. You are bound to take away
some inspiration from this beautiful home. The home is airy with white walls,
pops of colour here and there to contrast the neutrals with elements of wood,
textile and plants that give warmth to the space. Lisa Biebly, based in
Liverpool, has drawn her inspiration from textures, design and textile. Have a
look at her pretty home and get ready to soak in some serenity and let’s hear
more from Lisa herself.

Tell
us something about yourself.

I am a
primary school teaching assistant and have lived in Liverpool all my life. I
live in a Victorian house in Birkdale close to the coast. My son is aged 17 and
studying to be a graphic designer. Met my husband 28 years ago and we’ve lived
in a variety of houses, including a city warehouse apartment, 200 year old
cottage and now this house. I love period details in old houses and we’ve lived
here just over 12 years now.

Where do you draw your décor Inspiration?

I’ve always loved Scandinavian design and mid-century modern furniture. I get
my inspo from magazines such as Elle Decoration, Living Etc, Pinterest and
scrolling through Instagram. Love Design Sponge house tours too.

What
is your favorite style and décor?

My Scandinavian roots (great grandparents were Swedish) have led me to a long
love of Nordic design and lifestyle. I love crisp white interiors with pops of
colour and furniture with clean lines. Favourite brands include, Hay Design,
Normann Cph and Muuto. Simple, beautiful and functional. Fave Instagram
accounts are @catesthill @teaandkate .

I adore Farrow and Ball paints as the pigment is so rich and the texture is
just perfect. My home is overflowing with plants and cacti which add a lovely
fresh feel to monochrome interiors.
I love up cycling old pallets for my garden which is a quick and easy way to
add cheap chic. Finally, keep it light, bright and add colourful art to white
walls to make them pop.

Thank you Lisa for opening up your home to me and my readers. There were so many inspiring details to take away!

About Me

I am Rachel, based in Oman. My Blog is all about things that I am passionate about, interiors and celebration of design. I never realized that my obsession for home décor, food and other interests would lead me to writing a blog. I hope my blog is filled with pictures and websites that you can access easily and give you a global feel with my handpicked collections. Please drop a mail to tbinspirations@gmail.com if you wish to get in touch or comment.